Fuqing　County　of　southeast　China　has　witnessed　significant　land　use　changes　during　the　last　decade.　Remote　sensing　technology　using　multitemporal　Landsat　TM　images　was　used　to　characterize　land　use　types　and　to　monitor　land　use　changes　in　the　county.　Two　TM　scenes　from　1991　and　1996　were　used　to　cover　the　county　and　a　five-year　time　period.　Digital　image　processing　was　carried　out　for　the　remotely　sensed　data　to　produce　classified　images.　The　images　were　further　processed　using　GIS　software　to　generate　GIS　databases　so　that　the　data　could　be　further　spatially　analyzed　taking　the　advantages　of　the　software.　Land　use　change　areas　were　determined　by　using　the　change　detection　technique.　The　comparison　of　the　two　classified　TM　images　using　the　above　technologies　reveals　that　during　the　five　study　years,　a　large　area　of　arable　lands　in　the　county　has　been　lost　and　deforestation　has　taken　place　largely　because　of　the　dramatic　increase　in　built-up　land　and　orchard.　The　conclusive　statistical　information　is　useful　to　understand　the　processes,　causes　and　impacts　of　the　land　use　changes　in　the　county.　The　major　driving　force　to　the　land　use　changes　in　the　county　appeared　to　be　the　rapid　economic　development.　The　decision　makers　of　the　county　have　to　pay　more　attention　to　the　land　use　changes　for　the　county＇s　sustainable　development.